I began analyzing the financial markets in 1982 when I became the research director for a financial advisory firm and provided regular market analysis on stocks, commodities, currencies and mutual funds. I am a technical analyst. Much of my focus was on how obscure technical indicators or methods, could be applied to the financial markets and used as an effective trading tool. Many of the indicators I have used for years, such as Gerry Appell's MACD and Welles Wilder's RSI, have subsequently gained wide popularity.

This page is devoted to sharing my insights and techniques in order to help you become a smarter trader/investor. Over the past twenty years I have traveled around the world several times, visiting all of the major financial centers as he taught professional traders and money managers my approach to the financial markets.

My method of stock selection starts with a proprietary scanning method to select a group of individual stocks for more extensive analysis. This includes an in-depth study of the volume patterns that I use to determine the strength of a stock's trend. Those with the strongest trend, either up or down, are then further analyzed to determine entry, exit and risk levels. I use Fibonacci retracement, projection and extension analysis to determine both profit objectives as well as stops.

What Are the Rich Buying?

It was another positive Monday for the stock market as the S&P 500 futures at 10 AM ET were down almost 14 points from Friday’s late trading but closed up 5.5 points for the day. The previous Monday, the futures were down 16 points intra-day but again closed positive for the day.

This suggests that stocks are being accumulated at lower levels even though weak outlook for earnings from JPMorgan & Chase (JPM) and disappointing numbers from Pfizer Inc. (PFE) dragged both stocks down close to 2.5%.

Still, it is an earnings-driven market for US investors while the Treasury market seems to be flooded with overseas buying as the yield on the 10-year T-note dropped to 2.57% on Friday in reaction to the monthly jobs report. Yesterday’s better-than-expected ISM Non-Manufacturing did help yields to rise a bit from the recent lows.

The technical outlook for the PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQ) has improved, suggesting the unorthodox low from April 15 may have actually marked the end of its correction.

One of last week’s casualties was Coach, Inc. (COH) as it dropped 14% from last Monday’s close in reaction to its negative earnings revisions. What about the other companies that depend on the affluent buyers?

Click to Enlarge

Chart Analysis: The daily chart of the PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQ) shows Monday’s strong close but it is still below the downtrend, line a, and the April 24 high of $88.21.

This also corresponds to the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement resistance at $88.15.

The OBV made a new high in March, though actual volume (see arrow) was low as it was making its high.

Both the weekly and daily OBV (not shown) are above their WMAs.

The recent high and the monthly projected pivot resistance is at $89.70.

Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc. (BID) also depends on the wealthy as it just came to terms on Monday with major shareholder Dan Loeb. The stock was up 3.25% in Monday’s session on almost three times the average volume, closing at its daily starc+ band.

BID is currently trading above its 20-week EMA and with the quarterly pivot a bit higher at $45.35.

There is stronger resistance from early March in the $48.60-$49.05 area.

The weekly relative performance slightly violated its uptrend, line g, three weeks ago.

The RS line has turned up sharply and is testing its declining WMA.

The OBV shows a similar formation though it did hold support from the 2013 lows, line h.

The daily OBV does appear to have completed its bottom formation.

The weekly uptrend, line f, was tested two weeks ago as BID dropped between the 38.2% and 50% Fibonacci support level.

This is often a good buying zone when a stock or ETF has a pullback within a major uptrend.

What It Means: It is difficult to draw any strong conclusion about the buying preferences of the very wealthy though other data suggests they are doing quite well. The charts of two other luxury retailers Michael Kors (KORS) and Kate Spade & Co. (KATE) look quite similar to that of Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc. (BID).

I have been looking for increased consumer buying to give the economy a boost in the 2nd quarter and would look to buy the Select Sector SPDR Consumer Discretionary (XLY), as well as Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc. (BID).

As for the PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQ), an old friend and former rocket scientist John Ehlers, has added new features to his StockSpotter analysis. I told him I would be discussing the QQQ today and he provided his two-week projection for QQQ.

How to Profit: For Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc. (BID), go 50% long at $42.14 and 50% at $41.76, with a stop at $39.83 (risk of approx 5.1%).

For the Select Sector SPDR Consumer Discretionary (XLY), go 50% long at $64.08 and 50% at $63.76, with a stop at $61.67 (risk of approx 3.5%).

Portfolio Update: Should be 50% long PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQ) at $86.88 or better as the second buy at $84.72 was just missed. Use a stop at $82.37.

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